|Isis Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Study of ISIS-SMNRx in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy|
"SMA is a devastating disease that leads to the loss of motor neurons resulting in muscle weakness and respiratory failure in children. The genetic cause of this disease is well understood, but there are currently no effective disease-modifying therapies. Currently, treatment of SMA is entirely symptomatic and focuses on preserving muscle strength and lung function by physical therapy and assisted ventilation. This supportive approach has improved the natural history of SMA by extending life expectancy, but muscle weakness and atrophy are not affected. A disease-modifying drug like ISIS-SMNRx that specifically targets the cause of the disease could, for the first time, restore muscle strength and respiratory function and dramatically improve the children's function and quality of life," said
SMA is a severe genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 – 35,000 patients in
"Our strategy to treat SMA relies on a simple, powerful antisense method that boosts SMN protein levels by fixing a genetic RNA splicing glitch. Working with Isis, we have successfully redirected splicing to increase functional SMN production. We have thoroughly validated this approach in multiple animal models, observing marked improvement in modifying the disease course in both mild and severe models of SMA," said
"SMA represents a serious unmet medical need with no currently available treatments. ISIS-SMNRx is our first drug to intervene in the splicing of RNA to increase the production of a normal protein, SMN. Together with Dr. Krainer's lab, we have validated the antisense approach to treating this disease and are now advancing this program into clinical studies," said
The Phase 1 study of ISIS-SMNRx is a single-dose, dose-escalation study designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of the drug in children with SMA between the ages of 2-14 who are medically stable. In this study, ISIS-SMNRx will be administered intrathecally as a single injection directly into the spinal fluid. Intrathecal administration of an antisense drug, ISIS-SOD1Rx, has been shown to be safe and well tolerated in an ongoing Phase 1 study in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
"SMA is a heartbreaking disease. Children with SMA are bright and engaging, but often never achieve the simplest motor milestones like walking, crawling, and sitting up. Many do not live to reach kindergarten. In milder cases, SMA patients inexorably grow weaker and experience the loss of the few abilities they did acquire. In addition to motor losses, SMA patients young and old are at constant risk of tragic consequences from simple respiratory infections that you and I take in stride," said
"We are very pleased to see the great milestone of a disease-modifying drug treatment advancing into clinical trials in SMA patients," said
"We see real promise in therapeutic strategies for SMA that increase production of the SMN protein," said
Isis acknowledges support from the following organizations for this program:
For more information on the Phase 1 study of ISIS-SMNRx please visit: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Splicing is a normal mechanism that the cell uses in order to produce many different, but closely related proteins from a single gene by varying the processing of the RNA. It is estimated that of the approximately 25,000 genes in the human genome, approximately 90% have alternative splice forms. In some cases, alternative splicing of RNA results in the production of proteins that are involved in disease. These diseases are referred to as splicing diseases and include SMA, cystic fibrosis and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.
ABOUT COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
Founded in 1890,
Isis is exploiting its leadership position in antisense technology to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners. Isis' broad pipeline consists of 28 drugs to treat a wide variety of diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic and severe and rare/neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Isis' partner, Genzyme, plans to commercialize Isis' lead product, mipomersen, following regulatory approval, which is expected in 2012. Isis' patents provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and technology. Additional information about Isis is available at www.isispharm.com.
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the discovery, development and potential of drugs for severe and rare diseases, and the development, activity, therapeutic potential and safety of ISIS-SMNRx. Any statement describing Isis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs, including the planned commercialization of mipomersen, is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. Isis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Isis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Isis. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Isis' programs are described in additional detail in Isis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Isis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to
Isis Pharmaceuticals® is a registered trademark of
Kristina Lemonidis, Director, Investor Relations, +1-760-603-2490, or Amy Blackley, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, +1-760-603-2772, both of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.